Is PayPal Stock Still a Buy After a Revenue Miss?
PayPal stock is falling Tuesday after the payments giant reported mixed third-quarter results, but most of Wall Street remains bullish.


PayPal Holdings (PYPL) stock is spiraling Tuesday after the payments giant reported mixed results for its third quarter and raised its full-year profit forecast.
In the three months ended September 30, PayPal's net revenue increased 5.8% year over year to $7.8 billion, driven in part by a 5.7% jump in payment transactions to 6.6 billion. Meanwhile, its earnings per share (EPS) were up 22.5% from the year-ago period to $1.20.
"PayPal delivered strong financial and operating results during a highly productive third quarter," said CEO Alex Chriss in a statement. "We are making solid progress in our transformation as we bring new innovations to market, forge important partnerships with leading commerce players, and drive awareness and engagement through new marketing campaigns."

Sign up for Kiplinger’s Free E-Newsletters
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and more - straight to your e-mail.
Profit and prosper with the best of expert advice - straight to your e-mail.
The company's top and bottom-line results were mixed compared with analysts' expectations. Wall Street was anticipating revenue of $7.9 billion and earnings of $1.07 per share, according to Yahoo Finance.
PayPal's total payment volume increased 9% year-over-year to $422.6 billion in the quarter, driven by active accounts increasing 0.9% to 432 million and payment transactions per active account rising 8.5% to 61.4.
For the fourth quarter, PayPal said it anticipates low single-digit revenue growth and a low to mid-single digit decrease in earnings. And for the full year, it now anticipates earnings growth in the high teens, up from its previous forecast of low to mid-teens growth.
"We are raising our full year non-GAAP guidance and are pleased with the strength we are seeing across the business," Chriss said. "We've built a solid foundation in this last year that will serve us in the years to come."
Is PayPal stock a buy, sell or hold?
Heading into Tuesday's session, PayPal was up 36% for the year to date, easily beating the S&P 500's 23.5% total return (price change plus dividends). And most of Wall Street thinks the financial stock has more room to run.
According to S&P Global Market Intelligence, the average analyst target price for PYPL stock is $85.58, representing implied upside of roughly 10% to current levels. Additionally, the consensus recommendation is Buy.
But not everyone is all-in on the large-cap stock. Financial services firm Morgan Stanley has an Equal Weight rating (equivalent to a Hold) on PYPL with a $71 price target.
"PayPal's massive online acceptance lead and industry-low attrition can support growth that's in line with overall e-commerce," wrote Morgan Stanley analyst James Faucette in an October 24 note. "Improvements in operational efficiency along with ongoing share repurchases can also support low-teens EPS growth."
However, Faucette expresses concerns over PayPal's strategic direction, citing slow progress in improving Branded Checkout, doubts about Venmo's monetization potential among Gen Z and Gen Y shoppers, and uncertainty about the company's investment priorities and ability to execute key strategies.
Related Content
- Earnings Calendar and Analysis for This Week
- Analysts' Top S&P 500 Stocks to Buy Now
- Stock Picks That Billionaires Love
Get Kiplinger Today newsletter — free
Profit and prosper with the best of Kiplinger's advice on investing, taxes, retirement, personal finance and much more. Delivered daily. Enter your email in the box and click Sign Me Up.

Joey Solitro is a freelance financial journalist at Kiplinger with more than a decade of experience. A longtime equity analyst, Joey has covered a range of industries for media outlets including The Motley Fool, Seeking Alpha, Market Realist, and TipRanks. Joey holds a bachelor's degree in business administration.
-
80-Year Old Dick Durbin, the Senate’s No. 2 Democrat, To Retire After 44 Years in Congress
‘In my heart, I know it’s time to pass the torch,’ Senator Durbin said in a statement.
By Kathryn Pomroy
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Rise on Good Volatility
Investors, traders and speculators continue to process the "known unknown" of global tariff-and-trade war negotiations.
By David Dittman
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Rise on Good Volatility
Investors, traders and speculators continue to process the "known unknown" of global tariff-and-trade war negotiations.
By David Dittman
-
Before You Invest Like a Politician, Consider This Dilemma
As apps that track congressional stock trading become more popular, investors need to take into consideration some caveats.
By Ryan K. Snover, Investment Adviser Representative
-
How to Put Together Your Personal Net Worth Statement
Now that tax season is over for most of us, it's the perfect time to organize your assets and liabilities to assess your financial wellness.
By Denise McClain, JD, CPA
-
Stock Market Today: Trump Retreats, Markets Rejoice
Stocks rally, yields soften, the dollar rises, and even beaten-down names enjoy the wages of potential trade peace.
By David Dittman
-
Tesla Stock Pops as Elon Musk Promises DOGE Draw Back
Tesla reported a sharp drop in first-quarter earnings and sales, as the EV maker suffered a backlash to its CEO's political ambitions.
By Karee Venema
-
Bouncing Back: New Tunes for Millennials Trying to Make It
Adele's mournful melodies kick off this generation's financial playlist, but with the right plan, Millennials can finish strong.
By Alvina Lo
-
Early-Stage Startup Deals: How Do Convertible Notes Work?
Some angel investors support early startups by providing a loan in exchange for a convertible note, which includes annual interest and a maturity date.
By Murat Abdrakhmanov
-
Stock Market Today: Stocks Soar on China Trade Talk Hopes
Treasury Secretary Bessent said current U.S.-China trade relations are unsustainable and signaled hopes for negotiations.
By Karee Venema